Pump



Mar. 3, 1925.

, Filed Nov. 2, 1923 P. .K. wooD tPUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Patented Mar.3, 1925.

P NT OFFICE.

PRESTON K. woon, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

rum.

To a?! who: it may concern p 4 Be it known that I, Pnns'rox K. '001), a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles .3 and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for pumping liquids.

H An object is to provide pneumatic, automatic pump apparatus.

' One of the objects of the present invention is to .provide a pump ofsimple construction I and of few operating parts and which operatingparts are entirely automatic and are controlled and driven by an elasticmotive fluid.

A further object is to provide a deep well pump of compact form so thatit may be 0 readily installed in a well casing or well hole. a

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in-the fo'llowingspecification of an embodiment of the, invention illustrated in theaccompanying cli afwing,wherein,

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section of one form.

Fig. 2-is a cross sectim on line 22 of .Fig. 1. I s

'Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 1 1

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central section of a'slightly modified form ofthe invention.

Fig. 5 is across SQQlJlQIl on:l-ine"'55 of 5 Fig. 1, and FigJGis acrds's section on'line 66ofFig.4. a

Fig. 7 is an elevation partial section of the apparatus arrangedtontilize the well pressure. i j: s In the fornrot thei invention shownin Figs.-1;to13 inclusive, the pump is illustrated is disposed within awell W which may or may not have a casing C.

This form of the pump includes, a' main upper body portion 2 the upperend of which is threaded at 2 toreceive the contiguous section of an airline L. Within the body 2 is shown a valve seat 3 engaged by a suitablevalve 4 which rests on the head 5 of a hollow piston valve including 'aconnecting tube 5 passing down through an intermediate pump shellsection 2 which is in "turn attached to the foot shell 2. The lower endof the piston tube 5 is attached to 5 a lower piston head 5 having a?closing end Application filed November 2, 1923. Serial No. 672,278.

ing screw 8- threaded in a. footbushing 9- niounted in the foot shell 2of the pump casing.

ably mounted within the pump body and is normally thrust upwardly byythespring 6 untilithe valve 4 closes 011 its seat 3 for the purpose ofpreventing, during operating, the upward passage of well liquid into theair line L. The pumpshell is provided in its lower portion with one ormore liquid in-v lets 10 and when the piston is in its uppermostposition as shown in Fig. 1 there registers with this inlet port 10 aport 10 in the piston body 5 so that under certain conditions oil orother liquid may flow into the hollow pump piston and rise toward thepistonhead which is provided with an air outlet port 11 shiftable intoregister with an air outlet port 11 in the pump shell head The apparatusprovides for the utilization of air pressure as a means for operatingthe pump piston and to that end the air line L is connected tocompressed air apparatus.

Air pressure is built up in the air line L above the valve 4 to asuitable degree after which the piston head is forced down until thehead uncovers a port 18 leading into a side duct 14 which returns at 15into the cylinder chamber. 'The upper portion of the piston is providedwith a port 16 to register with the port 15 just described whensufficient air pressure has' accumulated upon the piston. A downwardmovement of the piston carries the. port 11 away from the port 11 thuscutting off escape to the vent pipe 12, and also carries the port 10? ofthe piston below the port 10 in the lower portion of the pump shell thuscutting off the liquid inlet.

Concurrently with the downward movement of the piston, a'port 17 thereinbecomes registered with a port 18 in the lower porthe unregistered ports10-10".

' 11-11, the inrushing oil displaces the air tion of the pump shell andwhich leads into a discharge chamber 19 to which is connected adischarge pipe 20.

Means are provided to control the downward movement of the piston untila suitable pressure has accumulated in the air line L and over and abovethe upward thrust of the spring 6. Such means includes a friction devicewhich may be in the form of a ball 21 engaging a cam surface 22providedon the exterior surface of the piston; in this case provided inthe lower portion 5*. The pressure ball 21 is thrust against the pistonby a spring 23, the pressure of which is variable by a nut or plug24-threaded into the piston body, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of this form of the device is as follows:

When the equipment is lowered bodily into a well hole, the spring 6thrusts the piston up to seat the valve 4 with a predetermined pressure,saypounds, and the friction device 21 is set up to create an additionalpressure, say 25 pounds, under the action of the spring 23. Initially,the inlet ports 10-10 are in open registering position and the liquid inthe well will pass into the hollow piston and thence up, and willdischarge trapped air through the air vent pipe 12 while the ports 11-11are in register. In this initial position the port 16 of the piston andthe port 17 thereof are out of register with their respective ports 15and 18. Air pressure then being turned into the'air line L willaccumulate until it is sufficient to overcome-the spring 6 and thespring 23, whereupon the piston will be moved down; the air vent ports1111 will be separated to cut olf outlet, and as the piston head 5uncovers the port 13 air will flow past the valve 4, through the duct 11and through the registered ports 15 and 16 into the hollow piston andreact upon the oil contained and trapped in the piston by The re.- sultis that the air pressure directly on the oil forces theoil from thehollow piston out through the registered ports 1718 and through thechamber 19 and into and from the discharge pipe 20 until the dischargeof oil reduces load on spring 6 to such a degree that this is enabled toreturn the piston valve. The result is to again close the valve 4 on itsseat 3 and register the ports-- 10-10 to open the oil inlet into thepiston and also to register the air vent ports in the piston through theair vent until such time as the air pressure on the valve 4 issufficient to repeat the downward movement of the piston valve when theabove de-.

scribed discharge of oil agairgtakes place.

It is obvious that the pump is therefore of intermittently actingoperation in the forcing of the oil through the discharge by the actionof air pressure on the pump valve and on the oil.

A slightly modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 4 to 6inclusive, wherein the pump includes a pump tube 25 having attached toits lower end a foot fitting 26 with oil inlet ports 10. In this fittingis slidably mounted a piston part 5 having a closure 5 at its lower endand this piston is thrust upwardly by its spring 6,the lower end ofwhich is seated on the follower 7 and which is adjustable by the screw8, this being mounted in the foot bushing 9. The piston 5 has ports 5which inthe lower position of the piston register with orts 18 providingfor discharge into the clamber within the pump tube 25.

The piston part 5" is attached to a piston barrel 5 having at its upperend a piston head 5, this being-provided with an air port 16 to registerin its lower position with the lower end of a lateral air passage 14.-provided in a head section 2 connected to the air line L through whichcompressed air is forced to depress the piston structure 5 with theresult that compressed air will pass into the air passage 14 and thenceinto the hollow piston barrel 5.

This barrel is shown as perforated at 5 so that fluid may pass from thepiston barrel 5 into the space within the connecting tube 27 whichconnects the lower pump body 26 with the head body .2.

The piston head 5 has an air outlet port 11 leading into an air ventpassage 11. in the head 2 and from which may extend upwardly the ventpipe 12.

In addition to the upward pressure of the spring 6 on the pistonstructure there is a resistance offered by a friction device or ball 21engaged by a spring, 23 pressure-of which is variable by a screw24,'these parts being arranged compactly in a side portion of the pumpsection 26.

In operation ofthis form of the pncu matically operative pump, when theparts" are in the position shown in Fig. 4, liquid in the well passesthrough the inlet ports 10 into the piston and section 5 and thencerises in the barrel 5 and the tube 27 and upwardly toward the pistonhead 5 concurrently dispelling the air through the outlet vent 11".cumulatin'g in the air line L and this even tnally-overcoming theresistance of the spring 6 and the friction device 21 hearing on thepiston structure, forces the piston down until Meanwhile air pressure isacthe pump tube 25 and discharging at the top thereof. When the head ofliquid in the discharge pump tube is overcome by the spring-6 then thepiston valve again moves up and cuts off the air passage 14 and theliquid flows in through the inlet ports 10.; This action is repeatedintermittently 1n the charge of the oil without a pumping means. Myinvention therefore includes a pumping mechanism in which there is a gaswellfluid pressure line extending up sufliciently in the well to beabove the liquid level, and therefore the natural gas pressure in thewell is made effective by accunmlating action on the piston in the pumpto operate the same and therefore to discharge the liquid through thedischarge conduit. In Fig. 7 the apparatus is shown as combined with awell having a casing C with a head H provided with an oil outlet ordischarge D and with a gas vent 12 The fluid pressure line L is shown asextending up in the casing to a level, well above the liquid level sothat gas pressure accumulating in the well above the liquid can act downthrough the line L upon the pump piston and operate this so as to openthe port 14 and allow thewell pressure to exert itselfupon the liquidwithin the pump body. It will be seentherefore that in wells where thereis a low gas pressure this may-accumulate intermittently-and shift thepiston and act to discharge'well liquid. l

As shown in Fig. 1 the air vent 12mm" have a check valve 12 which isdesigned to automatically open should a head of liquid" accumulate inthe pipe 12 so that this liquid may escape back into the well; thecheckvalve automa ically closing when apartial vacuum is created in the pipe12 as when this is connected to the suction side of a pump indicated at-P.

It will be observed that thereis a differential diameter between thehead of-the piston 5 and the port in the seat 3 or part against whichthe head is thrust by the spring 6.

line, then as soon as the accumulated Assuming that ten square inches ofpiston head is exposed in the port of the pressure sure is suflicient toforce the piston lead away from theport, there becomes effective thetotal area of the piston head, which may be, for instance, 25% greaterthan the area exposed at the port, so that the pressure will beeffective on a greater area of the piston. By reason of the increasedeffective area of the piston head when lowered from its seat,

.require a proportionate reduction i of res it will require aproportionately greater resistance on the part of the spring to returnthe piston to the closing position, and will pressure in the pipe lineL. L

It will thus be seen that I have provided in a pump, means foralternately causing an aceumulatmn of fluid pressure to discharge liquidin one period and for venting trapped fluid aftersuch discharge andwhile liquid is entering the pump inlet in another period.

Further embodiments, modifications and variations may be resorted towithin the principle of theinvention;

What is claimed is:

1. In a pump apparatus. a pump body structure adapted to be bodilydisposed in awell, an expansive fluid pressure supply line attached tothe pump body, an air ventleading from thepump body, a liquid inletleading into the pumpbody, a liquid discharge leading from the pump bodyand a liquid discharge means to receive liquid discharged from the pump,a yieldable piston valve slidably mounted in the pump body and having aliquid inlet port to register with the aforesaid port and a liquidoutlet port to register with the said outlet port; the piston having an.air vent port to register with the aforesaid vent, said pump body havinga ported air passage leading from the chamber in which the piston valveoperates,. said passage being uncovered by movement of the piston valveunder motive fluid pressure,said piston valve being hollow and having anair inlet port to register with said passage whereby fluid pressure fromsaid-line may enter the piston and operate to discharge liquidWhen thedischarge "ports are in register. a 2. In a pump apparatus, apump bodystructure adapted to be bodily disposed in a well, an expansive fluidpressure supply line attached to the pump body, an air vent leading fromthe pump body, a liquid inlet .leadiiig into the pump body, a liquiddischarge leading from the pump body and a liquid discharge means toreceive liquid discharged from the pump, a yieldable piston valveslidably mounted in the pump body and having a li uid inlet port toregister with the aforesald port and a liquid outlet'po'rt to registerwith the said outlet port; the piston'havin'g an air vent port toregister with the aforesaid vent, said pump body having a ported airpassage leading from the chamber in which the piston valve operates,said passage being uncovered by movement of the piston valve undermotive fluid pressure, said piston valve being hollow and having an airinlet port toreg- .i'Ster-with said p g whereby fluid pres sure fromsaid line may enter the piston and operate to discharge liquid when thedischarge ports are in register, and means discharge leading from thepump body and a liquid discharge means to receive liquid discharged fromthe pump, a yieldable piston valve slidably mounted in the pump body andhaving a liquid inlet port to register with the aforesaid port and aliquid outlet port to register with the said outlet port; the pistonhaving an air vent port to register with the aforesaid vent, said pumpbody having a ported air passage leading from the chamber in which thepiston, valve operates, said. passage being uncovered by movement of thepiston valve under motive fluid pressure, said piston valve being hollowand having an air inlet port to register with said passage whereby fluidpressure from said line may enter the piston and operate to dischargeliquid when the discharge ports are in register, and adjustable meansfor controlling the yielding resistance ofthe piston valve.

4. In a pump apparatus, a pump body structure adapted to be bodilydisposed in a well, an expansive fluid pressure supply line attached tothe pump body, an air vent leading from the pump body,a liquid inletleading into the-pump body, a liquid discharge leading from the pumpbody and a liquid discharge means to receive liquid discharged from thepump, a yieldable piston Valve slidably mounted in the pump body andhaving a liquid inlet port to register with the aforesaid port and aliquid outlet port to register with the said outlet port; the'pistonhaving 'an air vent port to register with the aforesaid vent, said pumpbody having a ported air passage leading from the chamber in which thepiston valve operates, said passage being uncovered by movement of thepiston valve under inotive fluid pressure, said piston valve beinghollow and having an air inlet p port-to register with said passagewhereby fluid pressure 'from said line may enter the piston and operateto discharge liquid when the discharge ports are in register, means forcontrolling the yielding resistance of thevpiston valve, and anauxiliary friction device operating on the piston to control itsmovement.

5. Ina pumping apparatus, a pump body structure adapted to be disposedin a well,

said body having at its upper portion an air vent and an air passage andhaving at its lower portion liquld inlet portsand li uid dischargeports; a hollowpiston va ve slidably fitting" in the pump body andhaving at its upper end an air port to register with the said Vent andan inlet port to register with said passage, and having at its lower endports to register with said inlet ports and ports to register with thesaid discharge ports, a discharge conduit to receive discharged liquid,means for supplying motive fluid to operate the piston and in, oneposition of the piston to expel liquid from the pump into the dischargeline, and means for automatically shifting the piston in one directionwhen the dis charged load is overcome.

6. Means for utilizing well gas pressure to discharge well liquid from awell, comprising in combination a pump structure adapted to be submergedin the liquidin a well, said pump having a liquid discharge conduit, andhaving liquid inlet and outlet ports, the latter leading to the conduit;a piston valve in the pump for controlling the said ports, said pumphaving a gas vent leading to the top of the well and having a by-passfor-gas, said piston acting to cover and uncover the vent and thebypass, and a gas line extending upwardly from the pump so as to,receive well gas and through which the gas becomes active intermittently on the piston valve to shift the same and to discharge wellliquid from the P p- 7. A deep well pump for utilizing gas pressure in awell, comprising a pump structure adapted to be submerged in the wellliquid, liquid inlet and outlet means for the pump, a gas vent leadingto the top of the'well from the pump, a discharge con- J for controllingliquid inlet and discharge,

and a gas line extending upwardly from the pump to supply gas wellpressure to the piston, whereby to operate the piston and becomedirectly effective upon the liquid in the pump to discharge the same.

8. A deep well pump for utilizing gas pressure in a well, comprising apump structure adapted to be submerged in the well liquid, liquid inletand outlet means for the ump. a gas vent leading to the top of the wellfrom the pump, a discharge conduit leading to a point of discharge forthe well liquid, a piston valve in the pump for controlling liquid inletand discharge, and a gas line extending upwardly from the pump to'supplygas well pressure to the piston, whereby to operate the piston andbecome ,directly effective upon the liquid in the pump to discharge thesame, and means reacting on the piston valve after a discharge action toshift the same to cut oil the pressure of the gas acting on the liquidin the pump until the pressure is re-built.

9. A deep Well pump comprising a body structure adapted to be submergedin the well liquid, said pump having inlet and outlet liquid ports, agas vent extending from the pump to a point of discharge, a gaseouspressure line connected to the pump, a gas bypass in the pump, and apiston valve yielding-1y thrust to close the liquid outlet and the gasby-pass and open the vent, said piston being exposed to pres sure in'the gas line whereby the piston is movable in one direction by gaspressure to close the vent and oil inlet port and open the by-pass andthe oil outlet port.

10. A deep well pump comprising a body structure adapted. to besubmerged in the Well liquid, said pump having inlet and outlet liquidports, a gas vent extending from the pump to a point of discharge, agaseous pressure line connected to the pump, a gas by-pass in the pump,and a piston valve yieldingly thrust to close the liquid outlet and thegas by-pass and open the vent, said piston being exposed to pressure inthe gas line whereby 'the piston is movable in one direction by gaspressure to close the vent and oil inlet port and open the by-passandthe oil outlet port, the pis ton being hollowed and having .a portcommunicated with theby-pass'in one position so that gas pressurebecomes-eflective upon the liquid in the pump to discharge the same, thepump having a discharge conduit to receivet-he discharged liquid.

11. In combination, a pump structure adapted to be submerged in. wellliquid, a

piston valve operative in the pump struc.-.

ture to control inlet and discharge of well liquid, a fluid ressure lineattached to the pump for supp ying fluid pressure to shift the valve inone direction, said pump having a pressure fluid by-pass-and having avent with a check valve, said'piston controlling escape at the vent andfluid flow at the bypass, means for shifting the piston in a contrarydirection to the ressure-fluid, and a means for establislung a' partialvacuum in the vent pipe. v

12. In an automatic liquid pump, a pump structure adapted to besubmerged in liquid to be pumped and having liquid inlets and outlets,and having a motive fluid vent anda motive fluid by-pass; a valve devicein the pump for concurrently closing the liquid. inlet and the vent andopening the liquid outlet and the by-pass to permit motive fluid todischarge liquid from the pump, and. a means for holding the valvedevice in check until pressure of motive fluid is built up and becomesoperative to shift the valve to effect a discharge of liquid.

13. Incombination, a pump structure adapted to be submerged in wellliquid, a piston valve operative in the pump structure to control inletand discharge of well liquid, a fluid pressure line attached to the pumpfor supplying fluid pressure to shift the valvein one direction, saidpump having a pressure fluid by-pass andhaving a" vent with a checkvalve, said iston controlling escape at the vent and uid flow at theicy-pass, means for shifting the piston in a contrary direction to thepressure fluid,

and a means for establishing a partial vacuum. in the vent pipe, thepiston valve having a head area greater than the port area from thepressureline, whereby a differential action under line pressure isefi'ective against said shifting means.

' 14:. -A' system for utilizing natural gas pressure to discharge wellliquid from a well, comprising a dischar e line from the well, asubmersible pump body to the outlet of which said line is connected,inlet means for well liquid to said body, a conduit for leading .wellgas to the chamber of the pump body, a gas vent conduit from said body,and means, operativeby the pressure of the well gas, for controlling theaction of the natural as pressure in the pump for eflecting a disc argeof liquid thereby from the pump.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

PRESTON K. WOOD.

